Staff-lock for switch-levers.



PATENTED FEB. 19, 1903.

T. M. PARK.

AUTOMATIC ORBLQADER.

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No. 720,961. I PATENTED FEB. 17 1903.

' T. H. PATENALL.

STAFF LOGK FOR SWITCH LBVERS. uruuuzon FILED 001x23, 1902. no MODEL. 3 sums-sum 2.

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T. H. PATENALL. STAFF LOCK FOB; SWITCH LEVERS.

APYLIGATIOH FILED OUT. 28 1902- 30 101121..

/ Qglm'ron B7 A UNITED STATE THOMAS H. PATENALL, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SVVISSVALE, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

STAFF-LOCK FOR SWlTCl-i-LEVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. $0,961, dated February 17, 1903. Application filed October 28,1902. seen No. 129,137. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it rncty concern: from one staffstation is given a staff, and it Be it known that I, THOMAS H. PATENALL, will therefore have the right of Way over the a citizen of the United States, residing at Wil-- section of track between the staff-station from kinsburg,in the county of Alleghenyandstate which it started to the next staff-station, at 5 of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new which station it delivers the stafi. Obviously,

and useful Improvements in Staff-Locks for then, the locking of switch-points included Switch -Levers, of which the following is a in a railway controlled by a staff adds to the specification. safety of such asystem. In looking switches My invention relates to a staff-lock for the lever is locked only in its normal posiro switch-levers. tionthat is, when the switch-points are set I will describe a staff-lock for a switch-lefor the main trackand the staff can only be ver embodying my invention and then point withdrawn from the look after the switch-leout the novel features thereof in claims. ver is in its normal position and the locking In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is means set. This insures the proper setting I5 a front elevation of a switch-lever and staffof the switch points and acts as a check upon lock embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a carelessness of railroad employees.

\ side elevation, partly broken away to show a Referring now to the drawings, A desigmiddle part. Fig. 3 is a view, partly broken nates a switch-stand, which may be secured away and partly in section, of a st'atflock emto asuitable support by means of lugs ct, and

20 bodyingmyinvention,thesection beingtaken B a switch-lever suitably mounted in the on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a view, switchstand so as to be rocked on a pivot.

partly in elevation and partly in transverse One end of the lever B is suitablyconnected section, of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the seeby any desired means 'to the switch-points,

tion being taken on the line 4: 4: of Fig 3. and the lever is provided with the usual 25 Fig. 5 isaview,partlyin elevation and partly latch Z), which is operated from a latch-hauin vertical section, of the staff-lock shown in die I) through arod 19 b designates a quad- Fig. 3 with the parts in a difierent position, rant, with which the latch b coacts. In one the section being taken on the line 5 def Fig. position of the lever the latch is behind one 6. Fig. 6 is a View, partly in elevation and end I)? of the quadrant, and in the other po- 30 partly in transverse section, of the parts sition of the lever the latch is behind. the end shown in Fig. 5, the section being'taken on b of the quadrant. It is contemplated bymy 8o the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Figs. 3, at, 5, and 6 are invention to lock the lever Bin only one of drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2. its two positions, and this I accomplish by a Similar letters of reference designate correlocking means about to be described. 35 sponding parts in all of the figu res. The locking means are inclosed in a suit- I will premise that wherever I herein use able casing O, which is connected with the 35 the term staff-lock I mean a lock which is lever B and moves with it. One wall of the adapted to be operated bya specially-formed casing-as, for example, c-is preferably dekey, which is called a staff. In some uses tachable from the remaining wall of the easc of this invention in connection with railways ing, and it is provided with an opening the staff is given certain exclusive rights, so through which the staff D is inserted. The that the possessor of the staff may act freely plate is also provided with a projection 0', under instructions. (here shown as being a part of the plate,) the A particular use of this invention may be function of which will be hereinafter ex- 4 5 mentioned in connection with what is known plained. The plate 0 may conveniently be as the staff system of signaling used adtermed an escutcheon-plate. A hinged vantageously on signal -track roads having cover 0 is provided for closing the opening in turnouts or branch connections between stalfthe escutcheon-plate, and a lock c is prostations. A train moving in one direction vided forretaining the cover over the escutcheon-plate. The casing is also preferably arranged to include the usual latch-spring, which surrounds the latch-rod. The locking means are here shown as comprising a socket or sleeve (1, which is rotated by the staff, a cam 61', rotatable with the socket or sleeve, and a lever 61 for engaging the latch 5. One end of the socket or sleeve is journaled in the escutcheon plate 0, and the other end of which is provided with a plate d which acts as a plug. The plate d is removably'attached to the socket d, and one face of the plate is provided with a projection, rib, orv

lug d which is engaged by the staff D, and the opposite face of the plate is provided with a trunnion d which rotates in a suitable bearing provided for it in the casing C. d designates ribs provided on the socket d, with which springs rllcoact. The function of these springs is to prevent a too free movement of the sleeve and of the parts connected therewith. The cam 01 is here shown as being integral with the socket d, though it may be a separate piece and connected to the socket in any desired manner. The lever d is pivoted at one of its ends to the casing O, and when the latch is in position behind the quadrant the lever engages over the latch and cam d engages over the lever. The position of the parts in the position just described is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The staff D (see Fig. 6) is here shown as having a longitudinal groove (Z and a transverse groove d, which leads from the longitudinal groove. These grooves are adapted to coact with the projection c of the escutcheon-plate. It will be seen, therefore, that when the staff is inserted in the socket and turned the projection 0 will project into the transverse groove and prevent the staff from being withdrawn until it is turned again to bring the longitudinal groove into alinement with the projection c. When the socket is turned, and this is'accomplished through the projection d fitting in a recess or groove in the end of the staff, the cam d is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5. The latch 11 can then be lifted, the lever thrown, and the latch I) dropped behind the other end of the quadrant. With the latch b behind the end 19 of the quadrant the lever 01 rests on the quadrant and a portion of it is in the path of movement of the cam (1, thus preventing its being turned to such position that the staff can be withdrawn. It will therefore be seen that the staff can only be removed from the look when the lever B is in the normal position, which is the position shown in Fig. 2. The term normal is herein used in apposition to the term reverse, which latter is the position of the lever when the switchpoints are set to open the main line or track.

The advantages of the invention herein described will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 65

What I claim as my invention is-- 1. The combination with a switch-lever, of a latch for said lever, means for locking the latch to hold the lever in one position and a staff for operating the locking means.

2. The combination with a switch-lever, of a latch for said lever, a quadrant with which the lever coacts, and means operated by a staff for holding the latch locked with the quadrant in one position of the switch-lever.

3. The combination with a switch-lever, of a latch for said lever coacting with a quadrant, and a locking means carried by the lever and adapted to lock the latch in engagement with the quadrant in one position of the switch-lever.

4. The combination with a switch-lever, of a latch for said lever; and a locking means for said latch comprising a pivoted lever for engaging the latch, a movable cam for hold ing said lever from movement when in one position, and means for rotating the cam.

5. The combination with a switch-lever, of a latch for said lever and a locking means for said latch comprising a pivoted lever for go engaging the latch, a rotatable cam for coaction with the lever and a staff for rotating the cam.

6. The combination with a switch lever having a movement from normal to reverse, of means for locking the lever in normal position, and a staff for operating said locking means to release the switch-lever, said staff being prevented by the locking means from being removed when the switch-lever is out of normal position.

7. The combination with a switch lever having'a latch, of a quadrant with which the latch coacts, and a locking means for the latch comprising a socket adapted for rotation by a staif, a cam carried by said socket, and a lever. 4

8. The combination with a switch lever having a latch, of a casing carried by said lever, one wall of which is provided with an opening for a staff, a locking means Within said casing for the latch and a pivoted cover for closing the opening in said casing.

9. The combination with a switch lever having a latch, of a spring therefor, a casing carried by said lever for inclosing said spring and a locking means for the latch also carried by said casing and operated by a stafi.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS H. PATENALL.

Witnesses:

W. H. CADWALLADER, CHAS. B. GRAOEY. 

